Russell successfully kept the club in the Premier Division, but Limerick were relegated the following season, losing a playoff 2–1 on aggregate to Finn Harps.
Tasked with bringing the club straight back to the top flight, Russell guided Limerick to the first Division title in record time, as well as reaching the final of the EA Sports League Cup, which they lost to his old club St Patrick's Athletic.
Following a poor start to the 2017 season culminating in a 0–3 home defeat by Cork City, he left Limerick by mutual consent on 3 April 2017.
In April 2018, Russell was appointed by Bray Wanderers in an advisory role to caretaker manager Graham Kelly.
On 8 June, Russell was appointed as first team manager at Bray after Kelly's caretaker role reached the maximum 60 day mark.
[10] After going winless in the 2022 campaign, drawing one and losing seven, Russell and Athlone parted ways by mutual agreement on 10 April 2022.